Purlapa

Nyaratja was short
and close to stout
by the standards
of local males.

He was
a happy man,
always smiling,
often laughing.

Some piranpa
just considered him
a likeable and
helpful clown.

One night
I was invited
to attend
a purlapa.

The singing
and dancing
went on
all night.

Just on dawn
the singers
became
more excited.

Out of the dawn
two figures appeared
dancing -
… advance …
… pause …
… stamp …
… turn to face …
… turn to front …
… advance …

Now lit
by the rising sun,
the dancers towered closer,
under enormous headdresses -
… advance …
… pause …
… stamp …
… turn to face …
… turn to front …
… advance …

A scream went up
from the women
and children,
then ritual flight.

Singing ceased abruptly,
for quiet conversation,
as the dancers
were disrobed.

Headdresses were removed,
sacred items dispatched
to the sacred valley
behind the nearby hill.

Nyaratja was one of the dancers,
a towering primordial hunter -
a man of significance
in his own culture.

"Purlapa" is a dance of Aboriginal people of northern and central Australia.
"Piranpa" are non-Aboriginal "whitefellas".
"Nyaratja" means "this one". I use it rather than a real name, in respect for privacy of the individual and because of the custom of changing names  whenever someone with the same name dies.